The Pontypridd Chronicle and Workman's News

THE POLITICAL CONUNDRUMS. To the Editor of the "Chronicle Sir,-The following are the answers to the riddles published in your valuable paper last week, which please insert in your next issue, and oblige. 1. Why is a Tory like a dead nslr ;8.be- cause he cannot swim against the stream of political intelligence. 2. Why is a Tory's promise like a pie crust ?- A. Because it is made to be broken. 3. Why is it like the witches in Macbeth ?— A. Because it is a bubble, and vanish into thin air, and melt as the breath into the wind. 4. What is a Tory's promise ?-A. A custom —more honoured in the breach than in the observance. 5. Why is a Tory's canvassing speech like an incorrigible debtor ?-A. Because it is full of premises, but no fulfilments. CYMRU FYDD.

PONTYPRIDD AND THE LOCAL CANDIDATES. To the Editor of the "Chronicle, SiR,—Kindly allow me space to deny the personal insinuations of Consistent Liberal." You can confirm me, sir, when I say that I am a. Pontypridd Tradesman, of 10 years staading, and am a bred and born Welshman. I probably know, at least, as much about Welsh sentiment and needs as "C.L." does, but I can venture to say that I have not been favoured with one quarter the patronage which I know numerous other tradesmen in the town have received from the Lenox family yet I again assert that Mr Lenox is far and away the better represent- ative for Pontypridd, and is also the most univer- sally liberal." I am not a rank Tory, but a descendant from a Liberal family—only I don't believe in going the whole hog at any price," like some of our desper- ate Radicals would; neither have I ever active part in any political contest whatever nor did I make my last letter a political one (as "C.L." has done), but I go in for the best man, who will act honestly without any Wire-pullers," and I accept Mr Lenox's integrity to act as an independent candi- date because his promise is as good as fulfil- ment, 1 will not attempt to deal with "C.L's political points, because Mr Lenox, in his excellent speech at the Town Hall, on Monday evening, replied to all that there was need. The chief objections Mr Morgan and his supporters bring against Mr Lenox now are the following :-It is not enough that his family has secured the Common as Public Ground," and spent freely at least C50 upon it for the people- they want more. It is not enough that he pensions off all the poor work- men to save them from the parish, but they say he should pension the lot, even those who have "put bye sufficient to live on comfortably. It is not enough to pay his men for the good work, but they say he should pay for the bad work they do also. Is is net enough to keep the works continually going for 70 years, but they should keep on employing extra men every year, whether they went them or no. Is it not enough to rent the gardens at the rate of 33s per acre, but he should give them for nothing. It this is Liberalism, them save us from our friends." What a grasping lot. Like the dog and the shadow, they aie not satisfied with the substance, but they want the shadow also. They should take earn lest, in grasping fcr the shadow, they loose the substance. I don't exactly see where the consistency of Libertds comes in, becausa at the last Parliamentary Election, the local Caucus would not have a lawyer at any price, althongh they knew he was the best man, but now they say nothing bnt a lawyer is fit to represent them at the county council." Why this inconsistency ?-" Practise wnat you preach," and "lock before you leap." I Let our honest independent Mr Lenox be returned with a large majority, and thus show that the work- ing man knows his duty. They will never regret it, because Mr Lenox, if returned, will act for all local benefits, whether Liberal or otherwise, witbe at paying any lawyers' fees, and it is very certain that Pcntypridd will be better represented by an inde- pendent person than by one who has his hands partly tied, and must only do as a certaiL small section degires him. Yours, &c., PONTYPRIDD TRADESMAN. Pontypridd, January 8, 1889.

To the Ediicr of the "Chronicle." SIR,-In reply to Mr Idris Williams' letter, or rather egotistical epistle, I shall,with your permission, make a few comments. In the first place be asserts that it was unjust for me to attack him in his absence on a question outside the one we are contending, but he does not abstain from personalities himself, which, of course, is excusable rn his part. When I made the statements of which he complains I was fully aware that they would be published, and that he wool., be afforded ample apportunities to reply at his meetings. I did say that he ought to retire from holding public offices, before seeking a seat on the county council, and I still say that for a man to per- sonally serve the ratepayers with every satisfaction, especially in such an important office as that of col- lector of poor rates for the large parish of Ystrady- fodwg, his time would be fully occupied in -the per- formance of these dnties instead of delegating his work to junior clerks, who, by the way, are presum- ahly not overpaid and for a public official, who is virtually the paid servant of the ratepayers, to be also a director of the expenditure of the county, I main- tain he acts as servant and master. True, as far as we know (lawyers differ) there is no legal objection to his being a candidate, but morally I sav it is wronsr, and I have no doubt the legislative autbioritie3 will soon take this point under considera- tion, with the view to settling it by statutory power?. He states that he is proud of his position, and that the sum of E27,000 of the ratepayers' money passes through his hands annually, but fcrgets to mention that about £ s00 of this amount, from vai ijus sources, passes into his own pocket as remuneration, and pos- sibly this fact accounts for his affection to the office. By comparing himself with Lord Salisbury I have no doubt that the state official mentioned is quite as Liberal in principle as Mr Wiiliams is. for I think if tte question of extracting ground rents were sifted the Brj ngla3 laudlord would most probably secure the laurels for extorticnate prices, and aq to the equality of the statesman and the parish officer I leave the electors to draw their own inferences; but if the Emnercr of Russia. was to comTin,d Mr Williams to take his place, this officer would be vain enough to accept the position. Referring to hispeiscnal attack as to my having accumulated a fortune by keeping an "insignificant gin shop," I do not deny having made my way by mr-ans of dealing in wines, &c., and I am thankful fcr the patronage Mr Wi'liams was good enough to give me, and I may say that bad I a few more custo- mers of his sort, I should bave been able to retire, not with a small fortune, "just sufficient to keep moving," hot with something much more substantial. As to the Llanwonno Scbool Beard members, I did not allude to him, but it is nevertheless a fact that Mr WilLiams was a party to the extravagant offer of £ -100 for half an acre of laud. This amount from a landlord point ot view is nc doubt reasonable, bnt from a ratepayers' way of thinking I 'insider it very much top bi?h, and as for the requirement of the school at Hopkinstown I maintain it is premature to build there, because there is ample accommodation at Hopkinstown and Gyfeillon schools, and indeed a larsre nnmber of the children belonging to the parish ot Llantrisant are taught at Mill Street school, and when additional accommodation is needed, would it not be more in accord with common sense for the neighbouring parish to provide schools for their own children. The School Boaid rate is now 4d in the X, and if extravagance of this kind is to continue, the sooner the better some 01 the school board members are changed. With reference to the piece of land promised by Mr Williams, I adhere to my statement that he did re- fuse to give an undertaking in writisg to do so, but new in the heat of the contest he has deemed it polite to re-consider the matter, with the result that he is NOW prepared to give such undertaking. I should advise the secretary of the Hall CompaLy to procure the document before the election nay. I fear people of my class will have little chance for showing our capabilities whilst the offiee-gr jboer of Brynglas continues the policy of "Tynn pob peth ato ei hun." Yonr3, &c., JOHN MORGAN. Temple Buildings, Hafod, 8th January,1889.

To the Editor of ihe "Chronicle." Sir,-Allow we a small space again this week to I ftite a few fact? in reply to the letters that appeared in you 1 st weeks issue. The first signed by Meton." I have nothing to state with respect to him, but that I should adviso him to study and learn to manage his own affiii'^ before attempting to deal with other peopla 3 bu i ness. He his one of those people who has always time to look atter public matters, but has never suc- ceeded to take care of his own. Hence, so much for Meton." With reference to the one signed Elector," I am sorry if anything I wrote could be construed tT imply what he says re money matters. I had no intention whatever of that kind. li9 has enumerated a lot of appointments which I held, bat, dear me, he does not know oue half of af them. In addition to what he statedl may add I that I am the vice-president of the Rhtdda Tem- perance League teacher of a class of 2young men m the Sunday School, and attend to lat doty as regularly and conscientiously as I do te collector- ship of Ystradyfodwg chairman of a Bid of Hope vice-president of the Bast Glamoian Liberal Association member of the Ferndale ;chcol Com- bination Committee, &c., &c., w<ld without end. „ He said I was a secretary of "Friends Societies, quite true. Perhaps it would be interring too for I him to know what I have done in tia capacity. Some years ago the Glanrhondda Lad) of Ivorites went into difficulties the members yked me to take Mi tie see otarysbip I eonseled, and al- though at that time it had no funds atts disposal, yet carrying on the rules I laid down fothe transac- tion of the business, it is now onfof the most flourishing lodges in the Pontypridd istrict, with between zC800 and XI,000 of reserved funds. Mr Lewis Davies, Nythbran, is its excelht secretary. The rules laid down by me are now inforce at the lodge- T Take again the Pontypridd Distric of Ivorites. When I took the secretaryship it hq no fnnds, except that which was raised by a qirterly levy, and had an explosion or an epidemic ,aken place, depriving at once a large number of movers of their lives, the district could not meet tt funeral de- mands, but now, through my instruientality, the district has a reserved fund of betwan 4300 and £400 at its disposal. So that in cases,f emergency no one would suffer any loss from bei,s a member, but, to the contrary. Now I maintainl at through- out my life I have dore }my best fo:the working classes as a member and officer of Fnejly Societies, as well as in every other respect. Your correspondent refers to the Registration incident, and says that I remernbeit we 1. Yes, I do and I remember also that at tbt time Mr J. J. Griffiths did everything in his pow- to <-trike out of the list of voters some of thenameSiat"Mabon's" agent had claimed. Mr J. J. Griffith, who is the author of the letter, knows as well at do that the names were not published in the firslist according to arrangement made between biigelf, Mabon's agent, and myself, and that it was though no neg- lect of mine whatever the names of tie successive occupiers weie not put in the first ha. And to place this as a neglect of mine is a grass uuruth and breach of faith. The whole affair wa.s eplainei at the revision court in the presence of tlr Benson, the Revising Barister, who was perfEtlY satisfied at the arrangement. This is' only lotber trick to lead the voters astray, simiiar to tb; in Mr Griffiths, address, where he btates that a meeng of delegates bad confirmed the selection of thponygraig Com- mittee, etc., but as a matter of fai no such meet- i g was ever held, and the associabn, at its annual meeting, passed no resolution whatever on the matter, but Mr T. P. Jenkins, president of the Rhondda Labour and Liberal Asjciation, and the majority of the association throuaput the Valley, are in my favour, and for gooct reasps. i supportea the workmen's cause when J. J.jrnSuhs and his then supporters wo.; Id—if they ould-throw the workmen and their candidate jadlong into the River Rhondda, never to rise aga, but now, when the association is conferring honoig upon its friends, Mr Griffiths claims that he is ejtied to a share. Well, I don't wish to prevent it in fair way, but let us get the honours in an honouCjlo way, and by fair means. Before your next issue the rest will be known. I Let no ill feeling fellow. Yours trnly, IDRIEWILLIAMS.

MR LENOX AND Ml H. S. DAVIES. To the Editor of the I Chronicle." SIR,—Will you please pubib the following copy of a letter which I have sent to iy L. G. Lenox, J.P.:— ,1,. "T, i-oniypii'i, d lullary ytn, JLSSU. DEAR SIR,-I thank you fofyour courtesy in send- ing me a copy of the letti sent by you to tie CHRONICLE with reference to t) granting of the license of the Merlin Hotel. I did, at a public meeting bd some time ago, at the Town Hall, charge you w,h inconsistency in vot- iog for toe license. The lett which you have sent to tha CHRONICLE docs not sen to me to touch upon the question at issue. The ineonsist-ncy I charg< yon with lies between your speeches at this f lectioiaad your conduct on that cccision. In your sfeches you deplore the gra.t imrease in druiikeni3=j aud the consequent crime, lunacy, and misery. [t is a. Well-known fact, verified by all who have stu<ed the question, that an increase in the number of Pulic-b-Duses means an in- crease of drunkenness. An yet in the face of that, you, in conjunction with otq; magistrates, granted a new license within 200 and :0 yards to an existing licensed house, and that agfogt the expressed wish of the inhabitants of the disjetconcerned. Herein, in my humble opinion, lies Ie incon3istenCy_ The fact that you had voti for the license when the plans were first submit^ jjv'e or six years ago only make3 the inconsistent greater, as at that time there were, comparatively, bouses in that district. But, as the magistrates ccg^ered that a good hotel was desirable in this distric wby Not have compelled the proprietor 13 clo3d one i his other houses, in a locality admittedly overcro*jed with public-houses, viz., the Tumble and Tram;.a(j, and transferred that license to the new hotel, his WON]C( have prevented the increase of the number^ licensed houses, at all elents, and one locality wqd bave bauctitted by tha change. I am sorry, sir, that, o-vu to the opinions I hold on this and some other_qu%j0jjs, I ieel compelled to take part in tha oppositioi to yotr return to the county council, which aut01-jty in all probability will, at an early period, La; tbe granting of these licenses. I shall taKe) tho liberty c seIldillg a copy of this letter to the CHRONICLE. I remain, Sgr sir, Yar3 faithfully, H. S. DAVIES. L. G. Lenox Esq., J.P-i Ynysangharad, Pontyjidd-

ALLEGED SCENE AT GLYNTAFF CHUtcfl. To the Ed:I■)">• of i,0 "Chonicle." SIR,-Kindly allow men 8h0l1 space in your vafmable paper. Ilaviugkb0a bought up in the Church of England, I paicft visit IQ tua Old Parish Ouurch of Glyutaff on Srnday liornin-, last, and witnessed a scene that I ;iope wll not occur again. rlb re appeared to be vn-y warm discussion between one of the sidesman ,.nd t young lady who has been connected (as 1wd aArwards informed) with the said church si:~iceherchilchood. I AN, YoU*. 4c., A VISITOR.

POKTYPBIDD LOCAL BOARD. THE SURVEYOR AND HIS PRIVATE PRACTICE. LIVELY DISCUSSION ON MR. ROBERTS' MOTION. The ordinary meeting of the above Board was held at their Offices, Pontypridd, on Thursday afternoon, the 3rd inst., when the following mem- bers, were present:—Rev. D. W. Williams, M.A., Fairfield, (chairman); Messrs Jabez Evans, J. Roberts, J. James, D. Rowland, G. J. Penn, W. W. Phillips, H. T. Wales, and D. Leyshon. I MR ROBERTS AND THE SURVEYOR. In accordance with notice of motion, Mr James Roberts moved that the surveyor (Mr E. Rees) be not allowed to continue his private work. Mr Penn seconded. The Surveyor said that he was surveyor to the Starr Bowkett Sooieties of Pontypridd and Porth, and he had written two reports for the same upon houses at Pontypridd and Wattstown. In the case of the Ferndale Valley he had gone up in the even- ing. That was the full extent of his private prac- tice during the past year, and the amount he re- ceived from the Starr Bowkett Societies was three guineas. Mr Penn said he very much deprecated the re- marks of Mr Rees, because he must know that it was the desire of the board that he should abstain from taking any private work at all. He (Mr Penn) contended that the Board must adhere to the resolution come to seven years ago, and stop outside work altogether, because the surveyor had enough and more than enough to do. As Mr Roberts had said the surveyor had been obliged to get two assistants for the preparation of the sewer- age plans, and if there was too much for the sur- veyor to do himself, then he certainly was not jus- tified in taking any outside work. Mr Roberts really did not agree with Mr Penn in blaming the surveyor solely, because he took a certain amount of blame upon himself. He did not blame Mr Rees for having used the time of the Board exclusively. He simply wanted to clear up the question, and that Mr Rees was not to take any private practice in future. He did not charge Mr Rees with anything. He thought every mem- ber of the Board was responsible to some extent, for it was well-known to them that Mr Rees was surveyor to the Starr Bowkett Societies. Mr Rees Mr Penn knows it as well as any other member of the Board. Mr Jabez Evans was greatly surprised to think that Mr Roberts should be the man. to draw the lines so very tight. If they had read the letter of Mr Idris Williams (which was published in the CHRONICLE), they would see that that gentleman said that the more work he had to do the more work he found himself able to perform, and no doubt the same thing would apply to others. Taking the trifle of work for which Mr Rees had •een paid only three guineas, it was absurd to base tlpon that a statement that he had devoted his time to other work, and to tantalise him for hav- ing had assistance for the sewerage work. He was even yet more surprised that Mr Roberts should have mentioned this, for Mr Roberts had been in favour of paying to Mr Chatterton three or four times as much as the surveyor had incurred in ob- taining assistance. Besides, Mr Roberts held a very onerous position under a certain company, who gave him the. privilege of being member of three boards, and he was trying to get on a fourth. ( Was it not possible that Mr Roberts must to some extent neglect his duty too by attending to those boards. Of course it was not for him (Mr Evans) to say. He was simply arguing the point. He did not know. But if the company had treated Mr Roberts as he had treated Mr Rees he would I not be a member of the Board. Mr Roberts was very loud in carrying out the principle of "Do unto others as you would others do unto you." He hoped he would put profession a little into prac- tice, as well as accept the theory. This was simply meant to snub Mr Rees. If there had been any tangible charge of neglect brought against Mr Rees he (the speaker) would certainly not defend him, but there was no charge brought in any shape or fonr, and he thought it would be very shabby indeed to deal with him by such means as Mr Roberts had suggested. He was sorry to see that his friend, Mr Penn, supported the motion, for he was to some extent in the same predicament. Mr Roberts: I am not going to reply to the rather elaborate statement of Mr Evans. I am here to do my duty without fear or favour. Mr Evans: I am afraid there is a little fear or favour in the matter. Mr D. Rowland said that inasmuch as the sur- veyor did not neglect his duties, and as no one (not even Mr Roberts) could say so, he saw no reason why they should pass such a resolution. The surveyor, living as he did at the offices of the local board, was always there, at all times of the day and night, and ready to do business.' Even on Sundays he was frequently called upon to do his duties. (Laughter.) The appointments held con- stituted such a very small matter, only looking at the house to see what it was worth. He had nothing to do with the building, and he thought it would be a pity not to allow him to continue. Mr Jabez Evans I am surprised that our friend, Mr Roberts, did not give rules to the surveyor when to go to bed, and when to rise. The Chairman thought they had better proceed to vote if it was intended to put it to the vote. Mr Leyshon wished to understand the resolu- tion. Mr John James said it was only a question whether Mr Rees should be allowed to have privtae practice, or not. Mr Penn I would rather give him 25 a year more in order to do away with it. Mr Evans You have become very liberal all at once. (Laughter.) Mr Leyshon But Mr Roberts has brought no charge against Mr Rees. Mr Roberts I simply want him to understand that he is expected in the future to devote his en- tire time to the duties of surveyor. The Chairman said he did not know whether it was worth putting this resolution to the meeting, because even if Mr Rees had neglected his duties, and got this trivial sum in the past, he would very likely, after what had taken place that day, forego any benefits which he might derive from such ap- pointments, and think only of his duties to the Board. Mr Evans did not see why they should not have the sense of the meeting on the matter. Mr Sprague, deputy clerk, suggested that it should be put in the shape of a question whether Mr Rees should be allowed private work, or not. Mr Evans My amendment is that he be allowed so long as it does not interfere with us more than at present. Mr Roberts: Then we should have Mr Rees acting as surveyor of these societies,and their plar.s would be brought before the Board. Mr Evans Is that antagonistic to our interests ? Mr Roberts: Yes, of course. Mr Evans But he has nothing to do with the plans. Mr Roberts I don't know. Mr Rowland I know it. Mr Roberts (to Mr Rowland): You are here as a member of the Starr Bowkett Society. The Clerk (Mr H. LI. Grover) suggested that the matter better be put to the meeting. The Surveyor: I have done nothing whatsoever during the last 25 years except this trifle, and of course I am- The Chairman (interrupting): Well, the ques- tion is very simple—should he be heard, or not ? (Cries of "Vote, vote.") The motion was then put to the meeting, and six voted for the resolution, namely, Messrs Penn, Roberts, Wales, James, Leyshon, and the Chair- man. Mr Penn (turning to Mr Jabez Evans) Will you propose a little extra salary now? Mr Evans: Well, that depends upon your con- science now. Mr Penn: Is it local option ? Mr Roberts 0, that will come. GENERAL BUSINESS. The Surveyor submitted his monthly report, which showed that he had tested the illuminating power of the gas, and found it to be H1 candle power on an average. Mr Roberts said they ought to have the gas reported oftener. „ v~- Mr Evans: But the report is satisfactory. Mr Roberts: Yes, but it has been worse. We have had cause to complain. Mr Evans: What I say is that Mr Roberts is continually bringing accusations which he cannot prove. Mr Roberts: But where is his report? Mr Evans: Where is yours ? Mr Leyshon asked what bad become of Mr Roberts' motion with regard to the taxation of ground rents and royalties. The Clerk replied that it- had lapsed. Mr Evans said Mr Roberts was very particular about it at the time. Mr Roberts Yes, and I would do so again if I thought I would have support. I was under the impression that it had been deferred because t was not present. The Clerk said that that had lapsed, and no fresh notice had been given. Mr Leyshon Then I shall give notice of mo- tion with regard to it. Mr John James Whoever backs it up will get support. Mr Evans Are you going to bring it forward, for Mr Roberts. Mr Leyshon No, on my own account. The proceedings then terminated.

ONE BOX OF CLARKE'S B 41PILLS is war- ranted to cure all discharges from the Urinary Organs, in eilher sex (acquired or constitutional), Gravel and Pains in the Back. Guaranteed free from Mercury. Sold in Boxes 4s. 6d. each, by all Chemists and Parent Medicine Vendors; or sent for sixty stamps by the makers, The Lincoln and Midland Counties Drug Co.. Liocoln. Wholesale, Barclay & Sops, Farringdon St., and aJl the Wholesale Houses. » • <

Numbers ot Norwegian settlers in Dakota are starving through the failure of the crops.. News from Warsaw states that Russia has estab. listied a war flotilla opoii the River Vistula. There are 180,000 foreigners in Paris. Of these, 88,983 have complied with the registration decree. The Denmark Temperance Society is reported to have 408 local societies affiliated, with a total membership of 17,500. Mme. Lavroffsky, a Russian champion ab cheas, has moved herself into nob only celebrity, bub affluence, by her proficiency at the game. Nehemiah Morris was fined 20s. ab Broadheafch, Altrincham, for carrying a revolver with which ho nearly shot a man. The limes correspondent adds thab the Möwe is laid up ab Daressalem, unable to move. There are constantly recurring deaths in the German i eet.. President Carnot, accompanied by adistingui-died party, has left Paris on a hunting excursion lo Kambouilleb. A boy named Firth, aged 18, was skating on a deep pit, near Radcliffe goods station, Lancashire, when he fell through the ice and was drowned. Naval drafts are leaving immediately for Zanzibar to strengthen the crews of the vessels stationed on tliab coasb. The well-known writer on Siberia, George Kennan, has been elected President of the Liteuuy Society of Washington, D. C. In official circles it is said to bo understood that Parliamenb will meet for the next Session on Thurs- day, -!st February. Prince Bismarck will personally take part in the forthcoming debate in the Reichstag on East African affairs. Count Habzfeldb, the German Ambassador in London, has returned to Berlin, from a visit to Prince Bismarck at Friedrichsruhe. The Rev. S. A. Bamett has coined a really good phrase, good because it conveys an idea. Ho speaks of the nationalisation of luxury. K'inigsberg Municipality is going to spend a K'inigsberg Municipality is going to spend a million ani a half franca on a central electric lighting station. The military authorities have decided to erect at Dover a large building to serve as a central emu- missariab store for tho whole of the feoutii-LiisLcru District. Because her husband danced with another woman ab a ball in Duluth, Minnesota, Mrs, Zieas—a bride of twenty years old-committed suicide by taking strychnine. In Killarney, with a population of 6,500, there are eighty-three drinkshops, besides hotels; and in Kilrnsh, with 4,000 inhabitants, no less than eighty ulaces for the sale of liquor. "Tho English do nob drink," so a French writer who recently visited London writes; "the cup is raised, the henel is thrown back, and Lhe liquid is simply poured into the stomach." The Rev. Mark Guy Pearse is the authority for the assertion tliab in Salford gaol, oub of 744 prisoners 688 have been to Sunday school, and that every one of them ascribe his or her fall to drink. The remains of the Rev. Thomas Russell, one of the founders of the Primitive MethodisbConnexion, who died at Dover, have been removed to Crewe for intermenb. Mr. Chauncey M. Depew thinks tliab of all th3 appointments in the gifb of the U.S. Government, the mission to England is by far the mosb attrac- tive. The Board of Trade Returns for December show that the imports for the month increased £3,ít)(i,J.í, ami the export decreased £ 1,571,255, compared iLh December of last year. The German gunboats Schwalbe and Mowr-. of the East African blockade fleet, have been disabled, the former having sustained serious damage in Consequence of running aground. One American religious paper, the Chris oin Register, refuses to admit any further allusions to Robert ELsmere," except at the usual advertising rates. Intelligence from Newhope, IVest Virginia, announces that a grist mill at that place exploded the other day. six farmers being kiHcd on the s-pot and several other persons being illjurell. A Boston paper notes that Mayor Hrnt follows the example of President Cleveland, Mayor O Brion, and President-elect Harrison in choosing a. news- paperman for his private secretary. The Press Association learns that Mr. William O'Brien, M.P., has not been served with any menb on behalf of the Times with reference to tho Special Commission. A Bucharest p:« per announces the projected marriage of 1'rince Ferdinand, the heir to he Roumanian throne, and a princess of a reign.ng family. We understand that there is no foundation fur the report which has appeared in some of the papers that General Sir Francis Seymour, ¡¡er Majesty's Master of the Ceremonies, is aboub to resign his appointment. Tho Press Association is" informed that Mr. Hitcliie, who has been detained in town in connec- tion with the arrangements for the County Council ielect ions, has left, for the South of France, and will be absent during the month. Tho wife of Turner Bryant, of Heflin, Alabama, bad left him and was living with her father. He went to the house, and forced his way in', after being refuse 1 admission, and was then shot dead by his father-in-law. Louise Michel has started a now paper, called I?Union Internationale des Fenunes. The time has come, says the revolutionary lady, for women to take their proper place in humanity, and assert their rights themselves. The other afternoon, Joseph Dawson, 2G years of age, residing ab 31. Lower Oxford-streeb, was admitted into the Doncaster Infirmary, suffering from a fracture of the left leg. He fell while skating. Lord Onslow lias retired from his office of Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade in order to prepare fur taking up his post as Governor of New Zealand, for which colony he leaves on February 22nd. Hitherto vegetables, fruits, and berries have been Itold by measurement in New York. The sagacious Board of Aldermen decrees that in future they shall be by weight and that the weight; and contents of every package shall be legibly marked on it. Mother Carey was a personage in the life of Wheeling, Va. Sho died a few days ago at the ripe C)1d age of 111. She was rather eccentric. About kn years ago she purchased a tombstone for herself, and kept it in her room up to the time of her death. Abestos was first mined as an article of commerce in Canada in 1*78. For the first year the shipments at the mines were about 300 tons. In LS<?<S the quantity had risen to 4,1;19 tons; the value of tho shipment having increased from 19,500 dols. to 226,070 dols. The grand total of the Italian army was, ab tho beginning of the year, 2,500,000. That is the numerical value of the three classes of the military organisation —the jMjrmanent army, the mobile militia, and the territorial militia. Enormous for a i nt population of 29,000,000 Miss Nellie Bayard, daughter of Secretary Bayard, made her tiel,?tl in Washington society on New Year's Day. She was piesented to President: and Mrs. Cleveland at I he W hite House, and after- wards received the Diplomatic Corps at her father's house. At the Flaxton (North Riding) Petty Sessions, Mr. Su pei in tende nl, Wright reported to the Bench that there had been an outbreak of "lleep scab on the farm of Mr. Taylor, of Sand Hutton, seven out of a flock of 150 sheep sui ering from the disease. Thomas Lpeg, aged twenty-six years, of the Dairy Fa nn, Newton-by -Daresburv, was lost in the fog the other night whilst walking- from Moore to Daresbury. He fell into the i'ri«Igewater Canal, and was drowned. His dead body was subse- quently recovered. ft is not generally known that Count; Herbert Bismarck was on the eve of being engaged to an English lady. Tho ('liancoliur, however, forbade the banns. He was determined that his son sitontd aot marry a foreigner, and the Count, like Gibbon, 'sighed as a lover and obeyed as a sun." Prince Aki, the I welvemoni !i -Id son of the Mikado of Japan, died on November 12, at Tokio. Of tho four sons born to tho Mikmlo only one is now alive, Prince Hani, who is about nine years old and of daughters all are dead save ono, who is jnly three mouths old. Sir William Gordon Macgregor, Bart., lodging at a Loy ton, was summoned at She Stratford (Essex) Petty Sessions, for assaulting Me of the servant*. Ultimately the case was settled on the payment by the defendant of half a •overeign compensation and costs. J

GLAMORGAN COUNTY COUNCIL. PO%'TH AND PENYGBAIG WARD. To He EiLlor of ihe, "Ch ovicle." T, Sir—Coming out of a meeting recently held at Forth, one gentleman saluted another th us-" J oh n. you are verv talkative to-niglit. "Yes, sir," quoth lie, -'it is election time.—"Ah, election time to be sure." There must be something in it, too, for I never before had any inclination to write to your paper, Mr Editor, although a constant reader of it. However, to-day, on reading the productions of "Meton" and "An Elector," I felt that I would try my hand at correspondence on this present burning question. On perusing "An Elector's" letter, it struck me very forcibly that he had mis- taken recommendation for incompetency. After recapitulating seven cr more offices which Mr LL- Williams holds (and à; scharges to the satisfaction of those that have entrusted them to him) he ex- claims bombastically—"What a veritable embodi- ment^of m v.'turn in yarvn." Now, sir, it appears to me that to discharge the duties of assistant overseer and collector of rates for some years is a splendid training for a county councillor. The practical knowledge which he acquires by experi- ence of the collecting of rates economically, of the rateable value and mode of valuation, of taking census, of making out lists of voters, of the various laws and statutory enactments bearing on these and kindred topics, are certainly very high recom- mendations. As secretary of a friendly society, senior deacon, and local preacher, Mr Williams, with characteristic energy, has associated himse-f with the philanthropic and religious phases of our social life much to his credit. As a School Board member he has rendered singular services to the public for a long series of years. For the last 2.5 vears he has been intimately connected with edu- cation in the ward where he is now seeking a seat on the county council, and it is no exaggeration to say that he has devoted more time, spent more money, worked more energetically on behalf of education in this ward than any other single per- son, and if it was not that it would savour of boasting I could also say more than all other per- sons put together. He is one of the most constant attendants at the board meetings. At the close of the triennial term ending March, 1886, Mr Williams stood at the top of the list but one for regular at- tendance at the school board meetings. Doubtless the same commendable record will be accorded to him during the present three years. One of the last services he did for the public was superinten- ding the alterations of the Forth Schools, in con- junction with his colleague, Mr Abraham, doing the work over £ 200 cheaper than the lowest ten- der offered for doing the work Are we to throw over a candidate of such public spirit to please an elector who rushes to the press and writes. Mr Williams holds a number of posts already, SD give the eountv council to me. No, I must beg your pardon, to Mr'Griffiths, if they are not the one and the same. for that is the sum total of his logic. Says Elector, "the bulk of the comfortable salaries goes one way, and the drudgery of the work falls on clerks," dc. Very good. Is this not the case in all large public appointments ? Further on "Elector" asks what he considers a comical question—"How is the work done for which Mr Williams is responsible ?" I will answer. It mat- ters not a whit for the electors of the Perth ward. That is the business of the Ystradvfodwg Vestry. It is sufficient for us to know that for years and vears he has devoted himself with zeal and tact to discharge his duties as a public servant on the school board, which is to me a guarantee that he will fill his duties as a C.C. if returned, with the same ffbnour to himself and advantage to the public. In the same number of your paper another cor- respondent, calling himself Meton, has a fling at Mr Williams, and in his concluding sentences he affects to have done a good deal. but in my humble opinion has done but very little really. He quotes Mr Williams as saying "that the more public offices a councillor holds the mere qualified he is to be councillor." Meton says this quotation is equivalent to "continually maintaining the same thing." Indeed Meton must be a clever logician to come to such a conclusion, because no person of ordinary intelligence could think such a thing. What is more evident than that a man turning in various spheres of public life, and consequently understanding the working of various public boards and the bearings of the various social problems, one or the other, is much better qualified to do the duties of this newly-formed county council. I hope he will not talk any more about old women and geese. Meton further quotes Mr Williams claiming equal rights to become a councillor as others holding public appointments, and charac- terises it as "equal to two blacks making one white." Where does Meton find black at all here"? Is it black for anyone to offer himself as a candi- date for a county council seat ? Why is it black for a public officer to do such a thing, because he is better qualified for the post as a rule ? But I suppose Meton means it as black for anybody to come in opposition to hisfavourite candidate, who, bv-the-bye, has no claim to distinction even in his profession. "Mr say., Meton, "intends to stick to his office like a limpet to the rock." Would not Meton do the same? But Mr Williamslias publicly declared that if he fails to discharge his duties to the ratepayers of Ystradyfodwg he will resign his overseership to devote himself to the service ox the public. Meton, in his last paragraph, confuses "electors" with "ratepayers," and is at the same time so con- ndent—soseff-conndent—of having "demolished spurious reasons," as a blind man is that it is dark at mid-day, because, poor fellow, he cannot see the sun. It may be very foolish in me to scribble like this, but then i= election time." anuary 5th, 1889. A LOOKER ON.

GLAMORGAN COUNTS COUNCIL. TO THE EDITOR OF THE "JHRONICLE." DEAR SIR,-I am perfectly cotent to accept Mr W. Morgan's refutation of the charge I brought against him, and am very glad toeceive it. With respect to the Nonoonfoijist Ministers, my criticism rested entirely upon a "if," as my letter in your issue of the 27th ultimo fearly proves, and I am quite certain no minister cqd have misunder- stood me. As regards the remarks maa< by your correspon- dent, Consistent Liberal," ht ;rtM"ly appears to know much more about my busjess than I do. To emphasize the intense difficulty carrying on Iron Works through the long period ,f depression, which I trust is now well over,, it is oty necessary to point to the great works in this distri. Messrs Booker's works, the College works at landaff, the Garth Chain and Anchor works, Mess Fothergid's works at Treforest and Abernant, tl Plymouth, Gadlys, and Penydarren works, have a collapsed entirely I while the Treforest Tin Plat. wons, the Forest Steel and Iron Company, and e>i the greatCyfartha works have all found it necessa,- to close their doors for long periods. In fact with Ie single exception of Dowlais, our works are the ory ones in the district that have been kept contmuouy open for 70 years. So much for Conservative mis-nnagement. I was informed by a speakettt a meeting of my supporters in the Town Hall, o Monday, that Mr Hopkin Smith Davies, speakinpublicly, accused me of acting incrmistently as girds the granting of the license of the Igrliu Hi tel. Mr Davies is, probably, not awar that the plans were submitted to the magistrates Stlle four or five years previous to the completion of he building. I then voted for the licence, on thqn-ounda that a really good house was desired in thigew and growing dis- trict. In again voting for the cence in 1887,1 claim to have acted perfectly consigntly, and my judg- ment was the judgmentof the ill Bench, I believe, on both occasions. 11 Your obedientjervant, L. {ORDON LENOX. Ynysangharad, 8th January, 1889.

Y GOLOFN GYMREIG. L'ob gohebicxp.thau Vio hanfon i'r Stoyddfct, PENILLION. Anerchiadol i Risiard Gwyngyll Hughes, Pontypridd. (A ddarllenwyd ar roddiad y dysteb iddo.) Nid y brenin ar ei orsedd, Yw pwysicaf ddyn y byd Nid enillwr buddugoliaeth, Sydd yn haeddu'r mawl i gyd; Eithr e'r llafurwr caled, Gwyd yn foreu—edy'n hwyr, Ar yr hwn mae gwlad a theyrnas. Dydd a nos, yn pwyso'n llwyr. Un o'r rhai'n mewn moes a rhinwedd,. Ydyw Risiard Gwyngyll Hugh.— Un o blant yr ymdrechiadan- Un o feib llafurwaith yw Yn ei law mae'r arfau gweithiol, Wedi bod er boreu 'i dclycld Mewn diwvdrwydd-niewii daioni, Ei ogoniant penaf sydd. Mae ei amgylchiadau bydol, Heddyw'r fath, ag sy'n ei wneyd Yn ddianghen-yn ddiofid- Uwchlaw pobpeth ellir dweyd, Ag sy'n gwrthryfela'n erbyn, Ei dymhorollwyddiant ef Mae yn en ill gwenau àaear, Ac yn enill gwenau'r nef. Ofer yw i mi ddesgrifio, Gwaith ei ben, a gwaith ei law; Maent yn Iluoedd dysglaer yma— Maent yn lluoedd dysglaer draw Y mae ei draethodau melus, A'i areithiau per eu bias, Am, ac ar, a thros Iforiaeth, ■* Yn ei brofi 'n buraf gwas. Nid oes un yn mhlith aelodau, Ceinaf adran Pontypridd; Ag y gellir dweyd am dano, Ei fod wrtlii nos a dydd, Fel ein Richard Hughes odidog, Sydd a'i ben a'i law ar waith, Yn gwasgaru egwyddorion If or Hael dros Gymru faith. Y mae yn ein cyfarfodydd, Ar bob adeg—ar bob llaw Y mae yn Llywyddu yma, Y mae yn areithio draw; Pen a chalon gyda'r gorchwyl, Nid oes rhagriili dan ei fron; Y mae fel yr afon loew,— Y mae fel y wawrddydd Ion. Medda benderfyniad cadarn, Nid oes dim a'i try yn ol; Ni ddawr ganddo wawd yr ylifyd- Ni ddawr ganddo wg y ffol; Mae mewn barn a sefydlogrwydd, Yn ddiysgog fel y graig, Sy'n gwrthsefyll gwynt a thonau Cryfion y tymhestlog aig. Y mae'n amddiffynwr cadarn J I hen enwog iaith ei wlad Ni all oddef gwel'd ei murnio Gan wneuthurwyr twyll a brad; Gwel'd ei geiriau'n argraffedig, Ac yn myn'd dros dir a thàn- Clywed ei llefaru'n groew, Sy'n rhoi tant o dan ei fron. Wele, liaws mawr o'r brodyr, Heno wedi cwrdd yn nghyd, I arwyddo serch eu calon, A'u parchfawredd iddo gyd; Y mae ei ymdrechion helaeth, Dros Iforiaeth fawr ei dawn; Yn cael ei arddelwi ganddynt, Gyda phob gogoniant llawn. Wele'r gadwen aur odidog— Wele'r oriawr hardd ei phryd- Wele y bathodyn gloew, Iddo'n cael eu rhoddi'n nghyd Gwisg hwv ar dy wddf eirianwawr- Gwysg hwy ar dy dyner fron; Bydded hir ac iach dy ddyddiau, I'w mwynhau, o'r fynyd hon. Llwydcliant fyddo yn dy ganlyn- Tithau 'n canlyn ar dy waith, Ac i wneuthur fel y gwnaethost, Etto, rhyw gampwri maith Fe fydd effro dy weithredoedd, Pan fo ti mewn melus hun; A dy fythol 9nw'n aros, Pan. fo marw 11awer un. Pontypridd. DEWI WYN o ESSYLLTV

STEALING GROCERIES AT PENTRE. At the Rbondda Polica Court on Mondcy, before the Stipendiary, Elizabeth Richards was charged with stealing goods. Rachel Davies, 42, Llewellyn Street, Pentre, said her husband keeps a grocer's shop. On Saturday last defendant came to her shop and asked for goods on credit. She consented, and on being asked where she lived, she said she lived with Mr Powell, the undertaker, and had apartments there. She said her husband's name was John Williams, and that he was a collier working at Pentre. She asked for Jib of tea, 21bs of sugar, lib of butter, and a piece of cheese lib. 3oz., a jug of jam; worth of cake, 1 lb of brawn,, a bar of soap, 6d potatoes, and la loaf. She borrowed a basket value Is. Defendant promised to pay on the following Saturday. She sent a little boy who assists in the shop with defendant to carry the goods. David Davies, a little boy, said he was assisting Mrs Davies in the shop on Saturday last, and left the shop with defendant to help to carry the goods. De- fendant went before him a little, and stood by the corner that turns up to Mr Powell's. She there told him to go to the barber's shop to see if her husband was there. Defendant took the basket off his shoulder, and he went to the barber's. On returning to the corner of the street found defendant and the basket were gone. P.C. David Davies said he arrested defendant at her residence, Hor.:b Street, Treorky, on Sunday morning. In reply to the Bench, Mrs Davies said she did not part with the goods because defendant said she lived at Mr Powell's, but because she promised to to pay for them on Saturday. To pay 10s towards the costs.